Show ContentsBanner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

This occupational name typically seen as Bannerman denoted someone who as a Standard Bearer, from the Middle English words banere + man and from the Old French ban(i)ere; from Latin bann-um, meaning a banner. 1 2

The first record of the family was found in Normandy in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae which listed Robert le Baneor, Normandy, 1180. 3

Early Origins of the Banner family

The surname Banner was first found in Normandy about the time of the Norman Conquest c. 1066. As an occupational name for "someone who carries the banner," it denoted a person who held the office of standard-bearer to one of the early kings or one who summoned, proclaimed, heralded.

By extension Bannerman was more popular in Scotland, whereas, the root Banner was more popular in England.

Early History of the Banner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Banner research. The years 1782, 1865, 1870 and 1880 are included under the topic Early Banner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Banner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Banner, Bannare and others.

Early Notables of the Banner family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Harmood Banner (1782-1865), a British accountant and auditor who played a major role in the development of accounting and finance in Liverpool, establishing the foundation for the Liverpool Society of...

Banner Ranking

In the United States, the name Banner is the 4,949th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4


United States Banner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Banner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christian Banner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 5
Banner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Banner, who arrived in America in 1801 5
  • John Banner, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 5
  • Anton Banner, aged 17, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 5

Canada Banner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Banner Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Paulina Banner, aged 29, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Johann Banner, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Andreas Banner, aged 29, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Australia Banner migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Banner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Banner, Irish convict who was convicted in Ireland, transported aboard the "British Sovereign" on 16th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6

New Zealand Banner migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Banner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • H. A. Banner, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "St. Leonards" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Banner (post 1700) +

  • Peter Banner, English-born, American architect and builder who designed the Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Penny Banner (1934-2008), ring name of Mary Ann Kostecki, American professional wrestler, Commissioner of the Professional Girl Wrestling Association (PGWA) from 1992 until her death
  • Lois Wendland Banner (b. 1939), American feminist author
  • Joe Banner (b. 1953), American football executive, former Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Browns and former President of the Philadelphia Eagles (2001-2012)
  • Jill Banner (1946-1982), born Mary Kathryn Molumby, American actress, known for her roles in Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told (1967), The President's Analyst (1967) and A Man, a Horse, a Gun (1967)
  • David Banner (b. 1974), American rapper, record producer, and actor
  • John Banner (1910-1973), Austrian-born, American actor, best known for his role as the Luftwaffe prison-camp guard Sergeant Schultz in the TV series Hogan's Heroes (1965) and his catchphrase, "I know nothing! I see nothing! I hear nothing!"
  • Robert James Banner Jr. (1921-2011), American producer, writer and director, best known as the co-producer for The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1972)
  • Peter Banner (b. 1948), English professional rugby league footballer who represented Wales in 1975
  • Michael Banner, English academic, Dean and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Cornwall
  • David Morrison Banner (d. 1942), British Leading Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 7
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. A. Banner, English Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 8


The Banner Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil Sine Numine
Motto Translation: Nothing without the Deity


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/british-sovereign
  7. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  8. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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